4

"Why are you here, brother?" Sesshomaru said obviously not looking forward to company outside of the village. He had ended up near the tree where Inu-Yasha had been imprisoned. For some odd reason it felt like a good place to think… alone. His mood had been agitated since the attack, and yet he felt obligated to stay until he was sure no more harm would come to Rin. However, the other human… if that was what she was, she was the only one who could get to Rin and that hurt his pride more than anything. Leaving her here with the idea that these demons knew exactly how to counter even the Tessaiga's barrier breaking abilities made him nervous. A feeling he hadn't felt in many years.

"Kagome wanted me to stop by, don't get excited," Inu-Yasha responded gruffly. "Of all the places to be alone, you pick here. Strange, but whatever."

"Get to the point if you would," Sesshomaru responded narrowing his eyes but not looking at his brother.

"Well, aren't we just peachy. Fine. Kagome feels that Satomi should be around Rin for the time being because of the barrier issue. If they can tie a barrier to a source of life, of course our swords forbid us from harming human life if it's pure. But you sensed it too? Their relation?" Inu-Yasha guessed his brother would have figured it out, their blood was similar so hence the source of life allowed Satomi to pass through without an issue. "The only thing that bugs us is how Satomi was able to avoid the energy blast over and over. Kagome's guess is it could have been tied to the barrier, but I sensed something else if only for a split second. I couldn't tell what it was, and I wanted to know what you thought, or rather Kagome wanted to know."

Sesshomaru's silence only agitated Inu-Yasha as he grew impatient by the passing minutes. "Tch, go figure," he finally muttered before Sesshomaru turned around.

"They are sisters to be exact. But I've only heard Rin talk about a brother, mother, and father. It is something I will have to investigate. But yes, if the priestess must know, I did sense something else. Faint, but a scent I cannot place. If that is all, just leave." Sesshomaru didn't have to say it again and he felt his brother's presence speed back to the village. As much as the priestess was an oddity, he respected her ability as a priestess. Respecting a human, had he really fallen from such a stance that he was curious about one human and respected another. Perhaps Inu-Yasha hadn't inherited all of their father's admiration of humans.

A couple days had passed since the attack and the demons would be meeting at his estate tomorrow. He meant to fight, but if an army was unnecessary then he would rather go to settle the issue himself. However, he would need to leave Rin protected since they obviously knew about her. It wasn't like the fact was hidden that he had a small female companion. He just didn't want to think the other lands would be so foolish as to attack him so directly given his position. A part of him wanted to go destroy the North on his own and be done with it. However, as the Lord of the West, that would be more threatening than the other lands would allow. Politics made him sick, he could barely blame his father for escaping it from time to time. There was a way to follow and until he could speak with the real leader of the North, there was not much action he could take if the demoness Kinoko was of someone in high standing of the North quite yet. Just knowing they would underhand him so unexpectedly though made him wonder just what they wanted. Lands, made sense, but there would have to be more he felt for such a deliberate attack.

His thoughts kept him busy as he sat on one of the roots that stood up from the ground a couple of feet. For the first time since he was officially ordained Lord of the West, he was unsure of how to proceed. But one thing was for sure, he was not going to let his guard down. Not until whoever was responsible was dead by his hand.

Inu-Yasha was more than happy to be away from his brother's distain. Always blaming him for their father's death and then with the Tessaiga business, it was worth a good fight or two. However, this time was different. As if his brother saw that he, himself, was vulnerable for the first time in many years. It was a strange thought, but a reality that was slowly setting in by the looks of it. Sesshomaru had a lot of pride, and that was all shattered when he couldn't even protect the one person he wanted to protect most and yet someone else could. Even Inu-Yasha had to admit that would be a hard problem to swallow.

Just as he was nearing the edge of the forest back to the village, he could smell Kagome. She seemed content now, excited for some reason or another but that was far from ordinary. Being his wife, it was the strangest feeling and yet the most fulfilling. She was the strongest priestess of their time, as was Kikyo and yet they couldn't be more different. The difference was how they looked at the world. Kagome was born a normal girl and grew into this powerful being who could slay demons. Kikyo always had the gift and wanted to be normal. A dream he once shared, however, Kagome's heart and acceptance were the best gifts he could ever receive. Even more so than living a human life with her. He would be who he was, and she would be who she was. They would cross the bridge once it came of their difference, but for now he was happy. Truly happy for the first time in his life with the woman he loved.

Approaching the hut where they were keeping Satomi, he saw Kagome come out with the wash bin of water and rags they used to help lower her fever again. The woman was running a fever that was slowly going down, but it was still a rough couple of days. Rin came in and out from time to time to check in, but Satomi slept most of the time.

"So, how's she doing?" he asked carefully, seeing Kagome's tired face.

"I don't know. There's no reason her fever should still be there and yet I can't do anything to break it. If I had my modern stuff that wouldn't be a problem, but I'm limited and running out of options," she said frustrated. "She seems okay besides the fact of sleeping. What did your brother say?"

Inu-Yasha relayed the information about the barrier and faint smell, just left the relation to Rin out of it, and Kagome thought on it and nodded. "Well, that would make sense, but then if she's something other than fully human I'm really out of my realm here. I may not have what's powerful enough either way in that case, or we will have to just let her heal herself which could be dangerous."

"In that case, I will handle it," Sesshomaru said landing from the sky just behind Inu-Yasha making him jump slightly.

"Could you not sneak?!" Inu-Yasha yelled as Kagome tried to hush him.

"If you cannot heal her," Sesshomaru started just ignoring him. "I will take her back to my estate where the demon healers can look into it. If that demoness tries to capture Rin again, I cannot break the barrier it seems and nor can you, brother. If she is the key to keeping Rin safe for now, it is my duty to make sure she is taken care of until that need passes. When that happens, she can do as she likes."

Kagome just shrugged and sighed. "Well, I suppose there's no arguing and I'm not about to try. I've done what I can." Inu-Yasha relaxed and then nodded.

Sesshomaru turned and went into the hut where he saw Rin and Kaede feeling Satomi's forehead and cheeks. They both looked concerned as Rin looked up to him with a saddened face. "Rin, we are leaving," he said simply as he walked forward and kneeling before the sleeping woman.

"But, my lord, I can't leave her here! I have to make sure she…" Rin started obviously upset at the thought until she saw him lift Satomi up. The realization hit, and she smiled. If anyone could make her feel better, she just knew Sesshomaru could find a way. After all, he made her come back from the dead twice now.

"That's why she's coming with. This is not an ordinary illness that humans can cure," he said looking down to the woman now in his arms limp and all too warm. Her simple white yukata was loose around her bosom which made him distracted for a moment although she didn't have too much there. He supposed it was to try and keep her cool. He kept moving with Rin behind him as she wished Kaede well who also followed them out. Jaken was already waiting at the forest edge as he had contacted him before he made his decision. It would be risky but leaving her here and Rin would be riskier. Until the matter was solved, Rin would remain near him and this woman with Rin.

"Please let me know how she does, big brother" Kagome called out as he continued to walk by the small crowd outside the door. Sesshomaru simply looked back and raised his eyebrow before continuing onward as Rin waved good bye to everyone. "I hope she does okay," she prayed as she clasped her hands and hoped everything would work out. If they were on a brink of war, this would be far from the last time of seeing them.

Ah-Un and Jaken waited and Rin wordlessly climbed up on Ah-Un as Jaken nearly bugged his already buggy eyes out of his head. "M-m-mi Lord! A human girl coming with us. Rin I was expecting but…"

"Silence, I have made my choice. A healer is needed," Sesshomaru said as they took off for the skies. Time was working against them, but he was convinced this was no ordinary illness. Theories ran in his head, but none equaled out. He would need someone of better knowledge than he on healing. He had the sword to revive but killing was much more his strong point.

Arriving at the Lord of the West estate, it was a sight to behold. Rin awed at the castle like fortress that was nestled into the base of a mountain, as if half the mountain had swallowed it whole. The pillars around the outside of all three floors of multiple wings were neutral in color with dark and light browns as the rest of the castle was a pristine white. The large stone walkway lead to a forest that they had flown above and then up to the front entrance. A fence the height of three men at least surrounded the court yard and all the way to the mountain base with the gate dark and ominous in stature. Two men were stationed to guard and open it looked like as they both kneeled before their Demon Lord.

"Lord Sesshomaru," they both said as he seemed to ignore them and went inside. Rin followed him quickly as the front door slid open revealing two maids in simple black kimonos and hair up and out of the way. They greeted him in the same manner as they walked by. Wide and tall halls had rooms only blocked off my sliding doors and the wood for the halls were a dark stain. The sliding doors to the outside were open and everything felt so fresh and clean and yet commanding as a Lord's castle should. Finding a grand flight of stairs in the middle of the strong hold, they went up two flights to what seemed to be the area with the bedrooms. A servant was cleaning the floors when he saw his lord and immediately rose. Opening the door Sesshomaru paused at, he closed it as himself and Rin entered bowing on the floor as he did so.

"Wow, everyone is so… attentive," Rin said as she looked around to see not a single speck of dust. There must have been twenty rooms down the massive halls of this floor. Everything simple and yet grand with the minor details. The room they were in were spacious enough with tatami mats lining the entire floor with a comfortable elevated mattress in the middle. It was only elevated beyond the ankles, but it looked so much more comfortable than a mat on the floor. Sesshomaru set Satomi on the side of the bed and looked to Rin.

"I ask that you remain here for the time being. Jaken will be in shortly, but we are in a demon house and until I make it clear to them you are my guest please do not leave. A healer and servant will be in shortly to see to both of your needs," he said putting his hand on her head before leaving as she nodded obediently. She knew how demons could be, and they probably didn't understand yet just what was going on. It didn't seem like Sesshomaru was here often as it was let alone with two humans to follow.

Waiting, Rin hummed a song that Satomi sang quite a bit and opened a window slightly to let the air in. It was fresh enough as it was, but Satomi was not cooling down again. Her breathing was now ragged, and her skin pale. She didn't understand exactly what was going on, but she knew Sesshomaru only did things that were necessary when it came to humans. Plus, Satomi saved her life, and Rin felt she owed her to do everything possible to keep her healthy if she could.

A servant woman walked in with a healer and Jaken. Sesshomaru was nowhere to be found. The servant was quiet and remained off to the side as the healer was a seemingly middle-aged demon with red marks similar to Sesshomaru's on her face. Her red hair to match was kept back in a simple tie and her black hakama pants and white haori top made her an image to behold. She was beautiful, and her blue eyes showed with interest to Satomi. "This is the girl," she said elegantly as Jaken stepped aside.

It wasn't a question, but she went to kneel next to Satomi and breathed in. "Interesting, Maori. Maori, I will need you to entertain the girl, as I will need concentration to work." Looking to Rin, she smiled. "Do not worry child, your friend will be unharmed, I just need you to go with Maori here for a short time."

"But they are not to leave the room," Jaken chimed in obviously trying to keep his master's orders in check.

"Then play quietly as far as they can. I need to concentrate," she repeated obviously losing her patience.

"Come, young Mistress," Maori said quietly. She was a young woman with black short hair and straight cut bangs. Her skin was tanned slightly, and her eyes a dark brown. Maori seemed very human for being a demon, Rin thought as she moved to the other side of the room as they simply waited and watched the healer do her work. "My Master, Hana, will heal your friend. I know she can." There was a great admiration and respect in her voice and Rin could only watch in awe.

"Satomi," Hana called out in a mesmerizing voice. "Let me in." Her hands went to Satomi's collar bone and her forehead. Satomi sucked in a sharp breath before letting it out. Hana closed her eyes, and everything was quiet, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Jaken and the two women just sat in the corner of the room and they could feel two energies swarming the room. It was almost visible as a light blue and dark red aura swirled but remained separate.

Inside, Satomi could only feel the heat as she struggled to wake up. She wanted to awaken, she could hear everyone. It would be quiet for a time, and then she felt hands around her. Hands with so much blood it should have scared her, but she felt comforted as she felt nothing but the need to heal from them. But they couldn't so they were helpless. Quiet again until now. Someone was trying to enter her mind… but she didn't know if she could trust them.

"Ah, so this is where you've been hiding," a woman called out to Satomi and it echoed in the darkness that consumed her mind. "It seems lonely."

"Who are you?" Satomi asked defensively as she wanted to push the being out. She certainly wasn't human.

"My name is Hana and I'm a healer. You are very sick, you absorbed the demon energy to protect that girl and it is too much. If you keep it, you will die. Even though… you are not a pure blood human. You are interesting to me as you are not quite… well anything I've ever seen. The Lord of the West knows this, but he cannot see what I see. The Moon shines within you somehow, my little canary. I see your memories and pain. You poor child," Hana said as she outstretched a hand to Satomi.

"You know nothing!" Satomi lashed out almost in tears. "I have no one and nothing anymore besides myself and my memories."

"Oh? Then that girl?" Hana asked simply as Satomi gained an enlightened image. Rin's look, her alikeness that Satomi couldn't help but notice.

"She couldn't be… could she?"

"Ah, but the dead can rise when Sesshomaru wills it on a pure soul. Did you ever ask how he met the girl? 'Tis quite the story in the demon world as much as he tries to keep it quiet. A young girl killed from demon wolves who won over our lord. Humans probably assumed she was just to stay dead, but then… nothing is what they seem, child."

"What do you mean I'm not pure human?" Satomi asked trying to wrap her mind around the fact that Rin could very well be her long-lost sister.

"I mean you are interesting and yet you smell human and look human, but I smell something much darker. No normal human could absorb demon energy and yet here you are. Not a demon, not half… much less and yet maybe not demon at all. Perhaps the best of a demon."

"You're wrong," she lashed out again as the healer continued to be cool and calm.

"Perhaps, yet here we are. Wake up now, girl. Your fate is not yet chosen by the dead."

Waking up again with a start, Satomi was drenched in sweat as Hana sat next to her with a smile. "Welcome back, child."

Rin and Jaken seemed to fly over so fast to her bedside in both awe and curiosity.

"You're really awake! We were so worried and Sesshomaru brought you to his home, so we could find someone to heal you!" Rin was so excited as she went on and on about what happened the last two days. Satomi could remember when Kagome and Sango talked to her but not much more after that, just drifting in and out. Satomi just looked at her in wonder and slowly tears started welling up. She could see it before but couldn't believe it. Reaching out to Rin who was only an arm's length away, she cupped the girl's cheek and cried. She couldn't bring herself to find the words she wanted to say.

"I'm so sorry," was all she could get out between the tears and small sobs. "I couldn't do more…"

"You did so much! You saved my life, it's okay," Rin said as she hugged Satomi. She did not understand the true meaning of the tears, but Satomi didn't have to explain it yet. She wanted time to adjust and it was beyond anything she could have asked for. She would protect her little sister until death took her. It was now her only mission in life.

"Your job is done, Healer," Jaken said sternly as he watched Hana. She had a warm smile to the reunion ahead of her.

"Yes, yes it is," she said with a nod as she rose up and left to the sliding door.

"Wait… Hana…," Satomi said wiping her tears. "Thank you."

"I'm sure we will meet again, child." Walking out of the door, she left Maori there with the girl. Maori was a healer in training, but Sesshomaru commanded one competent be left here if Hana herself could not. Maori was the only one Hana trusted with the task and not to anger the Lord of the West. Walking herself out of the estate, she saw the lord himself near the gate arriving it seemed. "It is done," she said with a deep bow.

"I trust my suspicions were correct," he said looking up to where the room would be. He could sense her normal energy returning.

"Well, she absorbed demon energy and that was what made her sick. She's something other than human but it is curious. I extracted it and flushed it out of her body myself. Not a half demon but maybe not demon at all. Human surrounds her but doesn't claim her soul. However, no human could absorb demon's energy like that. She would be good to keep around the girl as I assume whoever did this will try at least once more. Call for me if you need assistance as ever, Lord Sesshomaru," Hana said as she moved aside as he passed her with a simple nod of acknowledgement of what she spoke.

This girl had a great destiny before her, that much Hana could see. However, she was no seeress to see exactly what that was. But she was on the path to lead to great growth or destruction, it would be her choice.